It's Open Enrollment time again. And there's good news. Most UC employees will not see an increase in their 2005 monthly medical plan premiums.

That's cause for celebration this Open Enrollment period -- from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30 -- when employees can choose a different medical or dental plan, or add eligible family members to current plans.

Wellness is a key message this year, said Liz Hansen, Benefits Manager at UC Davis, noting that various health plans are offering special incentives for those who are actively pursuing healthy lifestyles. In addition, the 2004 Benefits and Wellness Faire is set for Monday, Nov. 8.

Throughout the month ahead employees will be able to make changes online to their health and welfare plans at http://atyourservice.ucop.edu, where they'll find detailed summaries of various plans. All changes, which must be made online, become effective on Jan. 1. Employees will also receive printed mailings containing health benefit information by Nov. 1.

Here's what Open Enrollment will allow you to do:

• Change to a different medical or dental plan or add eligible family members.
• Enroll in or opt out of medical, dental, and vision plans or cancel coverage for family members.
• Enroll in, or add eligible family members to the legal plan.
• Re-enroll in the Health Care Reimburse-ment Account and Dependent Care Reim-bursement Account.
• Change participation in the tax savings on insurance premiums program.

Outlook for 2005

Key factors that appear to be driving current medical cost increases nationwide include a rise in the use of hospital and behavioral health services, more effective treatments for chronic conditions, increased prescription drug costs and health care costs for the aging U.S. population.

Despite the escalating costs, the UC's contribution to monthly medical plans will be significant enough to hold those costs steady for employees. The net effect will be that most UC members will not see an increase in their 2005 monthly medical plan premiums.

"The out-of-pocket premium rates for employees will continue to remain the same in 2005 as in 2004," Hansen said. "The university system has worked very hard to achieve this in a budgetary climate of limited funds and frozen employee salaries."

Hansen noted that medical plan co-payments, including those for office visits and prescription drugs, will remain the same. The vision plan and dental plans will remain premium-free for eligible employees with some benefit improvements to the PMI Dental Plan.

The ARAG legal plan will be open for enrollment this year with no change to benefits and rates.

She also noted that overall rates will actually decrease for supplemental life insurance (12.4 percent) and supplemental disability insurance (15.5 percent).

The At Your Service Web site contains information about employees' current enrollments, plans, rates and changes for 2005, eligibility rules, decision-making tools, benefits fair schedules, and enrollment instructions.

"The online process for Open Enrollment last year received very positive feedback and so it is being offered again," said Hansen.

She said the online site makes it possible to make simple transactions, look up primary physicians and receive immediate confirmation of new enrollment transactions.

Family member eligibility will expand in 2005 to include coverage for certain disabled children beyond the age of 23 and for eligible adult opposite-sex domestic partners, as long as one partner is over the age of 62 and eligible for Social Security based on age.

UC medical plan rates for most retirees with Medicare will decrease as a result of the new Medicare Modernization Act that Congress adopted in 2003. Rates for most retirees without Medicare will not increase.

Wellness for everyone

UC-sponsored health plans provide numerous wellness programs, including resources for exercise and fitness, weight control, nutrition, smoking cessation, substance abuse recovery, asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, depression and other disorders. Plans are offering discounts on health club memberships, sports and recreational equipment, massage therapy and nutritional and vitamin products.

"Staying well helps control costs," said Dennis Shimek, senior associate vice chancellor of Human Resources. "Our UC medical plans all provide a variety of programs, initiatives and incentives designed to foster well-being. You really can't do enough in terms of your health to enhance the quality of life that you and your family deserve."

The Benefits & Wellness Faire

The 2004 Benefits & Wellness Faire will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 8 in Freeborn Hall. Free apples will be given to the first 500 attendees.

Activities will include testing for body fat, blood pressure levels, screening for sun exposure, therapeutic chair massage and others. Flu shots will not be available this year. (See related story on page 3.)

In addition, insurance carriers will be present to answer questions and provide wellness information.

To enhance the faire's wellness offerings, there also will be talks by campus experts. Featured speakers include

• Sally Harvey, director of the Academic and Staff Assistance Program, on "Stress Management," 11 a.m. in MU Mee Room
• Liz Applegate on "Eight Must-Eat Foods for Better Health," noon, MU East Conference Room and
• Carol Kirshnit, of ASAP , on "All Things in Moderation -- Balancing Work and Life," 1 p.m. MU Mee Room.

Reservations for the talks are not required but seating is limited.

---------------------------------

Open enrollment presentations

The campus Benefits Unit will hold the following Open Enrollment presentations for those interested in learning more about health and welfare plans for 2005:

• Thursday, Nov. 4, 8:30 a.m., MU Mee Room
• Wednesday, Nov. 10, 9:30 a.m., MU Garrison Room
• Monday, Nov. 15, 9:30 a.m., MU Mee Room
• Wednesday, Nov. 17, 8:30 a.m. MU Mee Room
• Tuesday, Nov. 23, 9 a.m., MU Mee Room

No reservations are needed for these presentations. Sessions run about an hour in length.